Australian contender Turffontein is now the second favourite for the Group One Telegraph Handicap in New Zealand following the withdrawal of international sprint star Takeover Target.Trainer Anthony Cummings will make a final decision on the trip across the Tasman for Turffontein after he runs in a barrier trial at Cranbourne on Tuesday.Runner-up in the Patinack Farm Classic in November, Turffontein will race as Lord Turffontein if he heads to the $1 million feature at Wellington's Trentham cour
Australian contender Turffontein is now the second favourite for the Group One Telegraph Handicap in New Zealand following the withdrawal of international sprint star Takeover Target.
Trainer Anthony Cummings will make a final decision on the trip across the Tasman for Turffontein after he runs in a barrier trial at Cranbourne on Tuesday.
Runner-up in the Patinack Farm Classic in November, Turffontein will race as Lord Turffontein if he heads to the $1 million feature at Wellington's Trentham course on January 17.
He is at $5.50 on the NZ TAB with the Stephen McKee-trained Mufhasa at the head of the market at $4.50.
Mufhasa finished fifth, just three-quarters of a length from upset winner Jacowils in the Group One Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
"He (Turffontein) is booked on a plane on January 12," Cummings said.
"I just want to see him in the trial to determine where he is and how forward he is."
Fellow Australian Coniston Bluebird is the $18 second favourite for the $1 million New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on February 28 behind the Roger James-trained Firebolt at $10.
Trainer Bede Murray was pleased with Coniston Bluebird's last-start third at Rosehill, his first start since being gelded last month.
The decision to geld the three-year-old was made after he won at Warwick Farm in late November after almost throwing the race away.
Looking set for a comfortable victory, Coniston Bluebird decided once he was in front the job was done and let another horse get within a long head.
Murray then made the tough decision to have him gelded.
"I thought about it for a while, it wasn't easy but in order for him to be successful, particularly in New Zealand, we had to do it," Murray said.
"He was a lovely horse with his temperament but when I switched him to a staying type he became a bit too much of a thinker."
Coniston Bluebird is a son of the late Scenic, the sire of Murray's multiple Group One winner Universal Prince and Melbourne Cup winner Viewed.